Shooting Stars

I began to love stars due to a lazy summer closing to my near-approaching freshman year. I was in a resort down in Wisconsin that summer, and had lived the typical stereotype always associated with it: I found a summer love. He and I had an instant connection. I met him on an early Saturday morning, around 6 AM. I was awake early and just planned on staying outside until I became sleepy again.
 
He was carrying garbage to a dumpster. I know, romantic right? Well not really, but his eyes definitely were. He was about to pass me when I took a chance.

"Little early to be working, isn't it?"

He stopped and smiled. "Yeah, for sure, but it's a job, so what else am I gonna do?"

I gave him a nod like I knew how the responsibility of having a job was very important. He quickly continued on. I had the urge to follow him and try to make more small talk, but I feared by the way that he scattered off that I was coming on too strong.

The rest of the day went by in a childish kind of blur. I continued to look for the boy that worked at this resort, the boy that caught my attention from the get go. I remember rolling my eyes by noon and muttering to myself, "You're so desperate."

My best friend Kellie ended up going to this particular resort with me. I explained the situation and she laughed at me. "Really Sarah, you're just lonely. You're going to be here for another few days. What harm is it going to do if you hook up with him?"

I stared her down with venom. "I am not trying to hook up with him," I huffed. "I am simply trying to... well... have a fun time with him, that's all."

"Yeah yeah sure," she teased.

I am happy to report, the rest of the day I did not once look anywhere but straight ahead. My eyes were not allowed to wander, and worker-boy was forcefully pushed out of my mind.

Unfortunately, he was also pushed by me physically.

I was leaving a little bar/arcade room that is for the guests of the hotel, and I quickly walked out one of the swinging doors. Guess who was on the other side of it?

"Oh my God, I'm so sorry!" I stuttered, horrified to realize it was my Garbage boy I bumped into. He held his arm (the point of the door's contact) and just shook his head, laughing. "You're not the only one that's done that, trust me. I swear it's no big deal. Um, I have to get back to work."

"Right, yeah, you go and get workin'!" I muttered back, in complete shock. I couldn't have been cornier even if I would've said it with a smile and held a big thumbs up sign. I was truly mortified. I told Kellie the situation. She shook her hand as if swatting at a fly. "You're so dramatic. Maybe you were meant to run into him. He'll forever have a bruise and think of you."

I rolled my eyes and told her she was not helping. I quickly back tracked and went back outside. To my surprised, my Bruised boy was outside with a plate of food in his hand.

"Hey there," he said with a smile. Luckily Kellie was with me, or I fear I might've fainted.2

"Hi." There was an awkward silence. I mentally bashed my head against a wall. 'You look for him all day, knock him flippin' over, then all you can say is a stupid "hi" tentatively?!' I screamed to myself.4

"I'm Kellie, I know you two have already met," Kellie said boldly, shaking his hand. I watched to see how long he held her hand for. 2 seconds. 6

"Yes we have, although I don't know her name," he said with direct eye contact.8

"Sarah," I managed, reaching out my hand. He shook it with a nice firm grip. I counted how long he held my hand after he shook it. 6 seconds with a smile and a twinkle in his eye.10

"Robert. I do extra stuff around here since I'm friends with the owner here, but I mostly cook with the lead chief. I'm nowhere near as good as she is. I try to come out when I have free time."12

I nodded as if what he had to say was the most crucial thing there was for me to hear in my life.14

"When do you get off work?" I asked. I felt Kellie's eyes turn on me quickly. My own became wider. Was that me that asked that?16

"10. If you want to maybe hang out after I work, I'd really like to," he said sheepishly. I had read it right. I wasn't the only one that was interested.18

"Sounds great. Hope you cook good food, we're eating at that restaurant later," I said slyly. I was building the confidence up and milkin' it for all it was worth.20

He gave me a cocky smile with an even tone, saying, "Oh don't worry, you'll love it."22

"We'll see," I answered playfully. I grabbed Kellie's arm and turned around and walked off with a little strut.24

"You're such a flirt," Kellie hissed at me. "You do realized he's probably like 17 or 18? You're 15!"26

"And you point being?" I asked, giving her a sideway glance over my shoulder.28

"I give up," she sighed, laughing and walking with me to our room.
Later that evening, he met me down by the beach about 2 minutes away from the resort. We sat on a bench on a pier, talking and learning more about each other. I told him I was 16 (which was kind of close to the truth), single, happy and I hated English Muffins. He told me he was 17, single, content and hated worms. We felt each other out, finding out as much as we could about each other, gazing up at the stars and laughing about many topics.30

The next evening, my mom let me stay out even later and he and I got to spend around 2 hours with one another. Jokingly earlier in the day I asked him if we could go swimming.32

"Hell yeah! It'll be great!" he laughed, throwing his arm around me. "But it might get a little cold, so I hope you won't cry about it."34

I gave him a playful shove. "Psh, as if."36

We reached the pier by 10:03 PM. By 10:07, I found myself shivering in lake water.38

"I wasn't.. really serious about this you know!" I stuttered, feeling like ice was cascaded around me.40

Without saying anything, he swam over to me and wrapped me in his arms, then held me as if we were crossing the threshold, supporting me with one leg underneath me so I wouldn't sick. 42

We ended up getting out of the water after a little while, holding each other on the bench and talking quietly about more of our likes, dislikes and dreams. He told about his job and how he really loved it here. He told me how he was originally from Arizona but came here for the summer, not knowing if he should stay in Wisconsin or go back home.44

"Well why wouldn't you go back home? Nothing's keeping you here, right?" I asked truthfully.46

"Well, there could be one thing that keeps me here," he said, not looking at me.48

I smiled and looked up. The stars glistened around me, shimmering in beauty and serenity.50

"Everything is so clear up there," I murmured in awe, indicating towards the stars.52

"Yeah," he agreed. "It's completely dazzling."54

We stayed quiet for a brief moment. It wasn't an awkward silence, just a reflective moment for us to think of past events and just admire the stars. I gasped.56

"Look!" I shouted.58

"What?"60

Up above us, for the first time in my life, I saw a shooting star. I have to be honest, I didn't truly think shooting stars were real. But this one had to have been. The little bulb flickered through the air, bringing with it a sense of wonder. And to my absolutely amazement, another followed.62

"Wow," I whispered. "That's the first time I've seen a shooting star, and I got 2 in a row!"64

"Make a wish, hurry!" Robert urged. I made my wish. I asked that for next summer, I would be back here, sitting in this exact spot with Robert next to me.66

After this gorgeous display of nature, I realized it was about time for me to get to my room. 68

"So what did you wish for?" Robert asked as we stood up.70

"I'll tell you if it comes true some time," I said mysteriously. We began to walk to the beach when Robert held my arm back. I looked at him and asked with my eyes what was up. He answered with gently kissing me on the lips. We stood there for about 2 minutes, getting lost and flying along the evening sky.72

When we parted, he smiled and gave me a quick kiss on the nose. 74

"I got my wish," he murmured.
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